Hydraulic metal shear



Jan. 13, 1959 D. F. WINTER HYDRAULIC METAL SHEAR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5, 1955 Fig. 3

Daniel F l Winter INVENTOR.

Jan. 13, 1959 D. F. WINTER HYDRAULIC METAL SHEAR Filed Dec. 5, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.4

Fig.5

26 I04 62 96 //8 94 84 ,65 1V //6 I 64 m 52 /4 Daniel F. Winter IN V EN TOR.

402%.. By h -mm United States HYDRAULIC METAL SHEAR Daniel F. Winter, Ceylon, Minn; Application December 5,1955, Serial No. 550,898 4 Claims. ((1164-46) lie the full advantages and leverage attainable through hydraulic operationof a metal shear while at the same time effecting a m'ostiprecise control of the stroke of the shear. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a power operated metal shear in which all of the parts of the same are readily available for inspection, adjustment or servicing as required.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure -1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of metal shear incorporating therein the princi ples of this invention, the jaws of the shear being shown in closed position, and certain concealed parts and alternative positions of parts being indicated in dotted lines therein;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the upper portion of Figure l, but showing the position of parts with the jaws in their open position; t

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the shears taken from the other side of Figure 1 and showing the jaws in closed position;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 3; e

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the shears showing the jaws in closed position;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional detail view'talten substantially upon the plane indicated 'by .the section line 6--6 of Figure l and showing certain details of the actuating mechanism for the control valve of the hy draulicoperating means of the shears; and,

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view, of the hydraulic system for operating the shears.

The metal. shear in accordance with this invention comprises a suitable framework ill or any desired construction and which is provided with a top '12 and a shelfl4therebeneath. Supported upon the top 12 as by transversely extending frame members 16 'is a horizontally extending-solidstationarybeam 18 which constitutes the stationaryor'lowerjaw of the-shears, and upon which stationary beam is pivotal-ly mounted a mow able upper jaw Z'llybymaezins ofa transverse-pivotZZ. It

, 2 will be observed that the pivotal connection of the upper jaw with the lower 'jaw is disposed intermediate the ends of the upper jaw, and preferably close to the front end of the same. A pair of cutting blades 24 and 2e are respectively secured to the upper and lower jaws, in a shearing relation, as will be best apparent from Figure 5.

Oscillating motion is imparted to the movable jaw 20 by providing upon its -rearmost end a sector gear or curved rack 28, which is operatively engaged by a j ournalled Integral conneciiuid pressure from a suitable source is supplied selectively to opposite ends ofthe hydraulic cylinder 4-0, as

by the conduits i2 and 44-,whereby a rocking motion may be imparted to the upper jaw, with a powerful leverage action and mechanical advantage, for causing the bladesof the two therebetween.

,Carried by the" stationary lower jaw is a transversely extending rod :6:upon which is slidably and adjustably secured the hub or sleeve, portion 48 carrying an upstanding gauge 50. The latter is so positioned that it may be adjusted towards and from the jaws of the shear, whereby material placed between the jaws may abut said i gauge and be disposed, at a predetermined distance from the shears for cutting off gauged lengths thereof. e e

Mounted upon the shelf 14 is an electric motor 52, supplied with current from any suitable source, which drives as by means of a belt 54 a hydraulic pump 56 carried by a supporting bracket '58. hydraulic system to be hereinafter described, serves to operate the hydraulic cylinder 40.

The hydraulic system for actuating the movable jaw of the shear includes a reservoir 60 formed by an upstanding pipe projecting above the shears and which is connected by a conduit 62 with the intake side of the pump 56 and provides a gravity head therefor. A discharge conduit 64 connects thefdelivery side of the pump with an inletport of a conventional three-way valve 66. This valve is conveniently mounted just above the pump "as will be apparent from Figures 3 and ,5.

The two previously mentioned fluid pressure conduits l2 and 44- establishcommunication between the casing of the valve and the opposite ends of the hydraulic cylinder 40. There is provided a further conduit 68 which communicates with the conduit 62 on the inlet side of the pump, whereby the opposite end of the hydraulic cylinder from that being supplied with pressure fluid may be vented to the pump intake.

As shown in Figure 7, the valve includes a rotary valve member 70'having a pair of actuating passages 72 and 74 therein together with a diametrically disposed neutral passage 76. A handl-e7ti extends from the valve member 70 whereby the valve maybe actuated as set forth hereinafter.' r

The arrangement is such that in the position shown in Figure 7, the pump is delivering hydraulic fluid by the conduit 64 to the inlet side of the valve and through the valve passage 72. applies this pressure to the lefthaud side of the hydraulic cylinder. In this position, the upper jaw is actuated to cause the same to move upwardly from itsshearing stroke. At this time the valve passage '74 is venting the right side of the cylinder to permit this movement of the piston therein, When the jaws to shear material placed The latter, through the,

jaw.

rocated, the rod 96 causes pivotal movement of the arm asst-Lass lever '78 is moved to the position indicated in dotted lines at 86 the passage '74- is placed in communication with the supply conduit 64 and with the conduit :54 whereby pressure fluid is supplied to the right-hand side of the cylinder 4b, while the passage 72 is placed in communication with the conduit 4% to the left-hand side of the cylinder in communication with the return line es. in this position, the hydraulic cylinder and piston unit is elongated, causing a downward or shearing stroke of the upper movable jaw.

it will be observed, however, that the handle 73 may be moved to an intermediate position indicated in dotted lines at 82. In this position, the passage '76 is caused to establish communication between the supply conduit 64 at the inlet side of the valve and the return conduit in the valve casing communicating with the conduit 6%. in this position, the pressure of the pump is cut off from the hydraulic cylinder, leaving the latter deenergized with the upper jaw in its raised position, and the pressure of the pump is bypassed back to its intake.

A connecting link 34, see also Figure 6, is connected to the handle 73 as by a pivot 86 for controlling the operation of the three-way valve.

The operation of the valve is interconnected with and synchronized with the movement and positions of the movable jaw, and is adjusted for controlling the motion imparted to the movable jaw. For this purpose, there is provided a support bracket 9% suitably secured to the top 12 of the supporting framework, as shown best in Figure 3. A shaft 92 is journaled in this bracket, and has fixed thereto a crank arm 94 which in turn is pivotally connected to the lower end of a rod as having its upper end secured in a lug 93 upon the upper movable It will thus be seen that as the upper jaw is recip- 94 and consequently an oscillatory motion of the shaft 92.

The shaft 92 extends to the other side of the lower jaw 18 and has fixedly secured thereto a lever 100. Adjustably slidable upon this lever is a sleeve 102, which may be adjustably secured thereon in any desired manner, and to which is pivoted one end of a link 104. The latter at its other extremity is provided with a plurality of iongitudinally spaced adjusting apertures res, which are selectively pivoted as at 103 to a selected one of a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures 110 formed in an upper toggle link 112. The lower end of this upper toggle link is pivoted as at 114- to a lower toggle link 116, this pivot being fixedly carried by the stationary frame 12. Thus, the upper and lower toggle links can be pivoted about the fixed pivot 114 as will be apparent by a comparison of Figures 1 and 2. A tension spring 118 is provided which is terminally secured to each of the toggle links 112 and 116 for causing a snap action of th same as soon as the longitudinal axes of these links pass a straight line through the pivot 114.

Referring now particularly to Figure 6, it will be seen that the lower end of the lower toggle link 116 is connected to the link 84-, so that as the link 11rd passes to either side of a straight line extending through the axis of the upper link 112 and the pivot pin 114, as between the full line position shown at 116 and the dotted line position shown at 118 and 129 in Figure 6, the handle '78 ofthe valve will be moved between the positions 8 6, 82 and 8d of Figure 7. Thus, the valve will be selectively moved to either operate the hydraulic cylinder in one direction for opening the shear jaws; or in the other direction for closing the shear jaws; or to an intermediate position with the shear jaws still open and the hydraulic system short circuited from the hydraulic cylinder.

As so far described, it is believed that the operation of the hydraulic system for reciprocating the movable jaw will now be readily understood. With the jaw in the raised position of Figure 2, the valve handle 78 in the dotted line position 82 of Figure 7, the device will b at. idle. With the handle 78 of the hydraulic valve shifted from the neutral position 82, at which time the shears will be in the raised position as shown in Figure 2, the handle is then moved .to the position 80. This will place the pressure of the pump in communication with the right-hand end of the cylinder 40 by means of the conduit 44-, thereby lengthening the hydraulic unit and causing the shear to move downwardly to the position shown in Figure 1. During this downward movement, the connecting means consisting of the members Q6, 94, 92, Mid, 1524 will move the upper link 11?. in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2 until the spring passes the dead center position and the lever then moves to the position shown in Figure 1. This motion will impart a snap action to the lower link H6, shifting it from the position shown in Figure 2 to that of Figure l, and moving it from the position 125 to the position 116 of Figure 6. This in turn will again shift the valve, to the position 86, causing the hydraulic unit to shorten and to lift the upper shear blade. This upper motion will in turn again shift the toggle links and through these members will again reverse the valve, thus causing auto: matic operation of the shears.

in order to stop the operation of the shears, and also in order to replace the automatic operation with a single stroke operation, an actuating means is provided.

The latter consists of a foot pedal 122 rigidly carried by a lever 124 which is pivoted as at 126 to the supporting framework. The pivotal shaft 126 has a crank arm 128 thereon to which is connected the lower extremity of a connecting link 130. At its upper end, the connecting link is pivoted as at 1'32 to the lever 134 which in turn is pivoted as at 136 to a portion of the supporting framework. A tension spring 138 is connected to one end of the lever T34 and to the pivot 129 by which the members 125i and 130 are connected.

At its other end the lever 134 is povided with a laterally turned flange Md. The arrangement is such that by movement of the pedal 122, the flange 140 may be raised or lowered as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 whereby the stop flange will be placed into the path of travel of the lower end of the lower toggle link 116, or may be moved out of this path of travel. When placed in the path of travel, it will block movement of the lower end of the link 116 towards the right, causing it to stop in the position 118, which is a neutral position of the hydraulic control valve and corresponds to the position 82 thereof.

It will thus be seen that by depressing the pedal llZZ, the stop 14% can be so positioned that the hydraulic mechanism will be operative to cause the shear to make but a single stroke, and the movement of the lower toggle link 116, which directly controls the control valve and thus the operation of the shear, will be prevented from continuing its automatic operation as previously set forth.

It will be observed that by moving the pivotal connection 108 longitudinally of the shaft 104 and interchangeably connecting the same with the various apertures 106 therein, that the vertical stroke of the movable jaw will be varied, since varying portions of the same will be effected to cause the toggle link 116 to pass dead center and thus reverse the operation of the hydraulic system. Thus, the stroke may be adjusted and the shearing action may be limited to either the front or rear portion of the shearing blades as desired.

It will be understood that the electric motor 52 may be energized in any desired manner. Conveniently, there is provided a supporting bracket 142 rising from the supporting framework, and upon which a control switch 144 is mounted for controlling the operation of the motor.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A power shears comprising a stationary lower jaw and an upper jaw mounted for pivotal motion relative thereto, hydraulic actuating means for causing pivotal movement of the upper jaw, a control valve for said hydraulic means for causing upward and downward movement of said upper jaw, actuating mechanism operatively connecting said control valve to said upper jaw for reversing the operation of the hydraulic means upon predetermined movement of said upper jaw, manually operable means operatively associated with said actuating mechanism for causing said hydraulic means to effect a single stroke of said upper jaw, said upper jaw being pivoted intermediate its ends, a sector gear on said upper jaw, a driving gear journaled on said lower jaw and engaging said sector gear, said hydraulic means including a hydraulic cylinder unit disposed above and connected to the top of said movable jaw and to said driving gear.

2. A power shears comprising a stationary lower jaw and an upper jaw mounted for pivotal motion relative thereto, hydraulic actuating means for causing pivotal movement of the upper jaw, a control valve for said hydraulic means for causing upward and downward movement of said upper jaw, actuating mechanism operatively connecting said control valve to said upper jaw for reversing the operation of the hydraulic means upon predetermined movement of said upper jaw, manually operable means operatively associated with said actuating mechanism for causing said hydraulic means to effect a single stroke of said upper jaw, the actuating mechanism including snap action toggle links, one of said links being connected to said control valve, connecting means operatively connecting the other link to the movable jaw, said connecting means including a transverse shaft disposed beneath said lower jaw, a lever on said shaft, a connecting member securing said lever to said other link, said shaft having an operative connection with said movable jaw at the opposite end of said shaft from said connecting means.

3. A power shears comprising a stationary lower jaw and an upper jaw mounted for pivotal motion relative thereto, hydraulic actuating means for causing pivotal movement of the upper jaw, a control valve for said hydraulic means for causing upward and downward movement of said upper jaw, actuating mechanism operatively connecting said control valve to said upper jaw for reversing the operation of the hydraulic means upon predetermined movement of said upper jaw, manually operable means operatively associated with said actuating mechanism for causing said hydraulic means to effect a single stroke of said upper jaw, the actuating mechanism including snap action toggle links, one of said links being connected to said control valve, connecting means operatively connecting the other link to the movable jaw, said connecting means including a transverse shaft disposed beneath said lower jaw, a lever on said shaft, a connecting member securing said lever to said other link, said shaft having an operative connection with said movable jaw at the opposite end of said shaft from said connecting means, adjusting means on said connecting member for varying the angular position of said other link with respect to said first link.

4. A power shears comprising a stationary lower jaw and an upper jaw mounted for pivotal motion relative thereto, hydraulic actuating means for causing pivotal movement of the upper jaw, a control valve for said hydraulic means for causing upward and downward movement of said upper jaw, actuating mechanism operatively connecting said control valve to said upper jaw for reversing the operation of the hydraulic means upon predetermined movement of said upper jaw, manually operable means operatively associated with said actuating mechanism for causing said hydraulic means to effect a single stroke of said upper jaw, the actuating mechanism including snap action toggle links, one of said links being connected to said control valve, connecting means operatively connecting the other link to the movable jaw, said connecting means including a transverse shaft disposed beneath said lower jaw, a lever on said shaft, a connecting member securing said lever to said other link, said shaft having an operative connection with said movable jaw at the opposite end of said shaft from said connecting means, said operative connection including an element secured to the movable jaw, means operatively interposed between said element and said shaft for oscillating the latter in timed relation to movement of the movable jaw.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 590,049 Roth Sept. 14, 1897 889,177 Burdick May 26, 1908 1,689,648 Voleske Oct. 30, 1928 1,782,362 McArthur Nov. 18, 1930 2,161,375 Monroe June 6, 1939 2,389,531 Neale Nov. 20, 1945 2,490,012 Bissonnette Dec. 6, 1949 2,579,750 Merwin Dec. 25, 1951 2,623,589 Price Dec. 30, 1952 2,665,755 McCoy Ian. 12, 1954 

